Triumph Hurdle: Sportsmaster to stake claim in Spring Juvenile

News / Timeform / 10 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

J P McManus (left), keen golfer and owner of Sportmaster

"I've been pleased with him and we'll learn a lot more about him on Sunday."

J P McManus' Sportsmaster tests the water at Grade 1 level for the first time in what promises to be an informative Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Each of the 12 declared runners for Sunday's Spring Juvenile Hurdle, a race won last year by Dermot Weld's mare Unnacompanied, are previous winners and the presence of British raiders Asaid, Timeform top-rated Countrywide Flame and Crafty Roberto add further spice.

Sportsmaster, whose Timeform master rating of 126p leaves him with seven rivals ahead of him, only made it as far as the fourth on his hurdling debut at this track in December but atoned for that mistake by winning readily at Naas.

"We were quite happy with him last time," said trainer Edward O'Grady, who saddled 2009 winner Jumbo Rio, of the former dual Flat winner.

"It was his first race over hurdles in many respects as he was an early casualty first time out.

"I'm not sure what the race was like, though.

"They went no pace and it was a bit of a sprint finish, so although the second horse Hisaabaat gives us a bit of a form line, I'm not taking that form too literally.

"That said, I've been pleased with him and we'll learn a lot more about him on Sunday."

Punchestown Grade 3 scorer Ut De Sivola, trained by Willie Mullins, probably represents the pick of the home team.

The champion trainer also saddles the filly Gorgeous Sixty.

Countrywide Flame (Timeform rated 133) has already competed at the highest level having chased home Hollow Tree in Chepstow's Finale Hurdle and trainer John Quinn feels he deserves his trip to Ireland.

"He's in good form and we're very happy to be going there with him," said Quinn.

"I've had a look at the runners and it's a competitive race, but we feel he's got a chance.

"He should handle the ground all right as it will hardly be as soft as it was at Chepstow and he ran well there.

"We'll see how he gets on this weekend and then make a plan from there."

Ut de Sivola is currently the shortest-priced of the Spring Juvenile Hurdle runners for the Triumph Hurdle at [15.0], with Shadow Catcher trading at [27.0], Sportsmaster at [28.0], Countrywide Flame at [38.0] and Hisaabaat, His Excellency, Gorgeous Sixty and One Cool Shabra all much bigger.